4.5

Book source ~ Tour

Volke Savan is the Isle of Ruma’s gravedigger apprentice and so his is adopted sister Illia. Taken in by the Gravekeeper William Savan when they were very young they were destined to dig graves until they died. However, Volke and Illia have other plans. They want to be arcanists, someone who bonds with a magical mystical creature who could then wield magic themselves. Arcanists are looked up to and they are powerful and Volke wants to be powerful. More importantly he wants to be able to help people, people like himself and Illia who were dealt crappy hands in life. When he wasn’t able to bond with one of the only two phoenixes on the island, Illia has an idea. She has heard there are some shipwrecked mystical creatures stuck out in the Endless Mire and she’s going to find one for herself and one for Volke. So, off they go and the adventure begins.

Whew doggie! This is a wonderful exciting tale from beginning to end! Volke is the centerpiece of the story, told entirely from his POV. He’s a flawed, but wonderful character. Stubborn as all get out which is good because he needs all the stubbornness he can manage. Since his eldrin is a knightmare AND he’s second-bonded his magical connection is harder to manage than those who bond for the 1st (and usually only) time. It’s unusual for a mystical creature to bond a 2nd time since they almost always die when their arcanist dies. Or they go mad. But Luthair is determined to kill the arcanist who murdered his arcanist and he chooses to bond with Volke to do it. Secondary characters shine and I couldn’t decide who the actual villain was until nearly the very end. The world is fantastic and full and I can’t wait to join more adventures with Volke, Illia, and their friends. If you like your young adult fantasy to have magic, mystery, danger, and plenty of action then look no further. This is the one for you! ( )

Too much telling and exposition. ( )

Absolutely fantastic! A real page turner.

Volke wants more than anything to become an Arcanist. So much so that he barged into a bonding ceremony in attempt to bond with a Phoenix. When that fails he follows up on a rumor that there are mystical creatures in the Endless Mire. Defying the odds he finds a creature to bond to, a Knightmare. But he is the second bonded and his new Eldrin has an agenda... to kill the Arcanist that killed his previously bonded Arcanist.

This book will appeal to young adult fantasy lovers.

*I received a copy of this book from Hidden Gems. The review is my own, honest and unsollicited. ( )

If you like fantasy and magic, then, you need to treat yourself to a copy of this book. I was instantly transported to this world that author, Shami Stovall has created for this book. It was like I could see a movie playing out in my head.

Volke is the outcast. Yet, he is not the only one. There is Illia. She too is an outcast but she is fine with it. In fact, if it was not for her giving Volke the big kick in the butt, he would probably be a gravedigger still and not an arcanist. Volke also would not have met Luthair, a knightmare. The bond they share is strong.

There is mystery, intrigue, magic, fantasy, and adventure interwoven within the pages of this book. It will keep you entertained from the first page to the very last page. I enjoyed this book so much. I look forward to reading more books from this author. Knightmare Arcanist is a fantastical read for all readers of all ages! ( )

Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall was rollicking good fun! It's Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series for YA readers. Stovall is quickly becoming a name I look for. I've read a few of her other works, and she's great at adjusting genres!

We follow Volke, an orphan on the Isle of Ruma, who wants nothing more than to be an Arcanist. These magic users bond with mystical creatures that determine how the magic manifests. Though prohibited from formally participating in the isle's Phoenix Trials to bond with a phoenix, Volke crashes the ceremony. Waiting for the right moment, he jumps into the trial area, a place from where he cannot be turned away from participating. It doesn't go well (imagine that), and he is rejected. Then he and his sister travel to the Endless Mire, where Ilia has heard that a ship carrying unbonded creatures has crashed. That doesn't go well either, but the pair each end up bonded, Illia to the rizzel Nicholin, and Volke to the knightmare Luthair. But there's more to Luithair than anyone realises. Volke is not his first partner. Second-bonded eldrin have already conformed to their first Arcanist, and it is difficult for a new Arcanist to harness their magic. As a price for bonding with Volke, Luthair insists that they eventually seek out the rogue Arcanist who killed his last partner. Illia and Volke travel with the two new Phoenix arcanists to Fortuna, where they are accepted into the Frith Guild. Soon, the guild is off to fight pirates, and investigate reports of the magical plague that corrupts mystical beings. Things get crazy when the rogue Arcanist shows up. Is Volke ready to keep his promise?

I fell right into this story! Volke is determined to become an Arcanist, and he won't let anything get in his way. He's young and impulsive, but that was a good counter-balance with his sister Ilia. She tends to be the thinker, good at planning. I like that Zaxis and Atty, the two new Phoenix Arcanists didn't remain antagonists. I really disliked Zaxis in the beginning, but liked him by the end. I think there's a lot in his history that shaped him to be gruff and prickly. His family seemed overly entitled and overbearing.

Speaking of mystical creatures, these guys were awesome! Besides well-known beasties like Phoenixes, and dragons, there are unusual beings like an Atlas Turtle, pixies, and leviathan, and more unusual critters too, like an ethereal whelk, a rizzel, and a knightmare. Magic in this world is granted through the bond with a mystical being, which are then called eldrin. Arcanists' magic are attuned to that of the eldrin, so Phoenix arcanists can heal, and manipulate fire. Leviathan arcanists control wind and water. The longer the bond goes, the bigger the eldrin gets, and the stronger in magic the Arcanist becomes.

This was such a fun read! Perfect for those who enjoy the Codex Alera series, the Thomas Wildus series and the Harry Potter series.

***Many thanks to the author & publisher for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for the San Francisco Book Review ( )